Machine for operating on the shanks of shoes



Nov. 25,1924. 7 1,516,930

J. E. ROUSSEAU MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON THE SHANKS 0F SHOES Filed Sept. 28, 1922 Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH E. ROUSSEAU, 0F HAVER-HILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON THE SHANKS OF SHOES.

Application filled September 28, 1&22.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. Rousseau, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Havel-hill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Operating on the Shanks of Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for operating on the shank portion of shoes, and more particularly to a device of somewhat similar character to the tool shown in my Patent 1,486,801.

In practice the tool of my said prior ap plication is used for forming the shank while the shoe bottom is in temper and I have ascertained that when the shoe dries, or partly driesfthe edge portion of the sole in the shank, and particularly the channeled portion, tends to curl or bend outward beyond the surface previously formed. Consequently an additional operation is necessary to bring the shoe back into shape and this operation has usually been performed by pounding down the edge portion with a hammer. This pounding operation is usually performed when the sole is nearly dry, and, when done while the shoe is in this condition, the edges do not thereafter curl up again.

The object of my present invention is to provide means whereby this pounding or hammering operation may be rapidly performed throughoutthe entire length of the shank edge-portions and on both edge portions simultaneously, or either edge portion successively.

I accomplish this object by providing a pair of conically shaped beating rolls which are axially arranged on a rapidly rotating shaft with their smaller ends in proximity and have flattened surfaces formed thereon, to provide non-circular surfaces which will cause a beating or pounding gction on the work when held there-against, said rolls being splined on the shaft and spring pressed together, so that they may yield according to the width of the shank portion engaged, and will provide a yieldingly actuated pounded means for each shank edge portion.

For a more complete description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Serial No. 591,079.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view at line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional. View of the beating rolls at line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i: is a cross-sectional view at line &4 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

According to my invention I provide a suitable support 2, having a bearing in which a shaft 41: is journaled, said shaft having a pulley 5 therein, through which the shaft may be rotated at a suitable speed in either direction according to requirements.

A pair of rolls 6 and 8, of approximately trunco-conical shape, are mounted on the shaft 4, with their smaller ends in contact, and in central axial relation with the shaft, said rolls being splined thereon by means of a key 9, so that they are permitted to slide freely on the shaft to and from each other, but are held against rotation relatively thereto. The diameter of the rolls at their adjacent ends is slightly greater than that of the shaft, providing meeting faces which are normally held in contact by coiled springs 10 and 12 arranged on the shaft and held under some tension, in engagement with the opposite ends of said rolls, by adjustable collars 14 on the shaft, thereby permitting each roll to yield against the action of said springs away from their normal positions shown in Fig. 1, in which the action of the springs is balanced. A series of longitudinally extending depressions or flattened surfaces a are formed at regularly spaced intervals on each roll, said surfaces extending throughout approximately the entire length thereof and being blended at their edges with the intermediate circular or conical surfaces, to avoid the formation of sharp corners. A series of equally spaced, longitudinally extending rounded projections are thus formed on each roll. The end-portions Z) of the roll surfaces, at their opposite or larger ends, are inclined towards the shaft to a greater extent than the main portion thereof, and the flattened surface portions a are continued onto the end portions 5, the surface portions cminecting the main and end portions of the roll being rounded.

In use, the shank portion of the shoe is held beneath the rolls and pressed up against them, so that the shank-edge portions of the shoe are engaged thereby. As the surfaces of the rolls are irregular, or non-circular, they will have a beating action 011 the shoe, pounding the shank edge-portions down, so that they are level with the adjacent portions.

111 practice the shoe is held with the heel end next the operator, and the heel end of the shank portion is first engaged with rolls. The shoe is then moved heel end lirst until the entire shank portion has been operated on. The shoe is usually pressed upward, so that the rolls will be forced away from each other to some extent, as indicated in Fig. 3, the extent to which the rolls are forced apart depending on the width of the shank portion engaged, and the force of the blows on the shank portion desired. If the sole operated on is soft, the upward pressure which is exerted will be comparatively slight, and the wider the portions of the shank which are engaged, the greater will be the distance of the portions of the rolls which are engaged from their adjacent ends. lf the sole is hard, the upward pressure will be correspondingly increased, so that the force of the blows thereon will be likewise increased, and the rolls will be pressed apart to a greater extent. ln such case the roll portions engaged will be nearer the adjacent ends. Under all conditions, both shank edge-portions may be, and generally are engaged simultaneously throughout the entire length thereof.

As before stated, when the shoe is pressed upwardly against either roll, there is a strong tendence to push the roll axially away from its middle or normal position against the action of the spring 10, or 12, which engages it. Consequently the reaction of each roll is against a spring so that they may be considered as spring actuated. in their beating action. That is, as upward pressure on the inclined surface of either roll tends to push the roll back from its normal position, when a blow is struck thereby, it tends to yield axially against the spring action, so that the action is not positive, as it would be if the roll were fixed on the shaft. As the blows are rapidly delivered, the rolls cannot move towards each other to an appreciable extent between each blow, so that the blows will be uniform and may be readily controlled by the operator, and the vibration on the arms of the operator, as he holes the shoe against the rolls, will be slight. I

In finishing the edge portions at the ball which are nearly Hat and not transversely convex, as in the deeper portions of the shank, the end portions 7) will usually be employed.

It may be noted that while both edge-pen tions may be, and usually are operated on simultaneously, either edge-portion may be operated on singly, if desired.

The number and exact width of the flattoned portions a is not essential and satisfactory results may be secured with other means of providing the rolls with rounded projections.

1 claim:

1. A machine for operating on the bottoms of shoes comprising a rotatably driven shaft, a pair of conically shaped rolls of solid material splined thereon with their smaller ends in proximity to cause said rolls to be rotated with the shaft and to permit them to move axially thereon, said rolls having longitudinally extending, transversely rounded and non-circular, work-pounding and rubbing faces and spring actuated means for pressing said rolls together.

2. A device for operating on the shank portions of shoes comprising a rotary shaft and a pair of conically shaped rolls axially movable and held against relative rotary movement thereon, with their smaller ends in proximity, the surfaces of said rolls; having longitudinally extending depressed portions to provide a series of longitudinally extending rounded projections, and springs on said shaft arranged to press said rolls together and adapted to permit independent yielding movement thereof.

3. A device for operating on the shank edge-portions .of shoes comprising a rotary shaft, and a pair of axially yieldable rolls thereon, held against rotary movement relative thereto, said rolls having their work engaging surfaces tapering to their adjacent ends and formed to provide a series of regularly spaced, transversely rounded, longitudinally extending, work-engaging projections thereon.

at. A machine for operating on the bottoms of shoes comprising a rotatably driven shaft, a pair of conic-ally shaped solid metal rolls splined thereon with their ends of smaller diameter in proximity, said rolls each having a series of flattened portions extending longitudinally from end to end thereof and tapering in width from their larger to their smaller ends with the surfaces at their edges rounded to blend with the adjacent, conical surfaces thereof, and yieldable means for pressing said rolls together and permitting separation thereof as they are driven.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH E. ROUSSEAU. 

